Some of Bob Foster’s closest buddies would call him “The Bear” because of his tough way as Long Beach’s mayor of dealing with political and business issues. But others liked to call him a “Teddy Bear” because of his kindness in helping and caring for people.
“He may have been gruff sometimes,” said Nancy Foster, his wife of 57 years, from their home in La Quinta last week, “but, inside, he had a heart of gold.”
Nancy talked lovingly and movingly about her husband who died Nov. 30 after accidentally falling out of bed.
“He was trying to get out of bed when he fell and hit his head and caused bleeding in his brain,” she said.
He was airlifted to the Desert Regional Trauma Center in Palm Springs, where he died. He was 78.
She told me in a phone conversation that he had been dealing with a variety of health issues, including chronic myeloid leukemia and back problems. He was using a rotator walker to get along.
Nancy said she was humbled by the heartfelt messages she has received since her husband’s death.
“We shared 57 incredible years together,” she wrote in a Facebook message. “It was an extraordinary journey. It was Bob’s time to go peacefully. Forever in my heart. My rock!”
Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame inductee Al Unser Jr., left, on stage with former Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster during Unser Jr.’s induction ceremony in 2009. (File photo by Stephen Carr, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Bob Foster, shown here at one of his inaugural addresses, could have the new Coucil Chambers named after him, if the City Council votes to do so on Tuesday, April 23. Foster was mayor of Long Beach from 2006 to 2014. (photo courtesy of City of Long Beach)
Bob Foster, former Mayor of Long Beach, speaks at the memorial service for former California Gov. George Deukmejian at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach on Saturday, June 9, 2018. Deukmejian, who served as governor from 1983 to 1991, died May 8 at the age of 89. (Photo by Scott Varley, POOL)
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Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame inductee Al Unser Jr., left, on stage with former Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster during Unser Jr.’s induction ceremony in 2009. (File photo by Stephen Carr, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
She said she was planning to have a celebration of life in January.
Bob Foster also had a great sense of humor to go with his blunt, no-nonsense exterior personality. It came forth when the Long Beach City Council decided in 2019 to name the new city council chambers after Foster.
He certainly deserved the honor. As mayor from 2006 to 2014, he led the city through perhaps its worst financial recession in history. He had to make tough decisions to get the city through those chaotic financial times, making some people unhappy — but Long Beach became more stable financially because of his leadership.
But it was no secret that running City Council meetings every Tuesday night as mayor was not exactly one of Foster’s favorite things to do. Many of those meetings would drag onlate into the evening as speakers droned on. The meetings could be ponderous and boring, unless you were one of those speaking.
When he left office in 2014, he told me the one thing he wouldn’t miss was some of those meetings.
I reminded him about those comments in 2019 when the City Council named its new chambers after him and I asked him what he thought about that.
“There’s no lack of irony there, is there?” he said with a laugh.
But, he added, those council meetings were needed to do the public’s business and hear what people had to say.
“I just wanted them to be more efficient and move things along,” he said diplomatically.
Foster was pleased with public buildings being named after public officials, including the Gov. George Deukmejian Courthouse near the Civic Center, and the Mayor Beverly O’Neill International City Theater in the Performing Arts Center complex.
“The naming is a nice gesture for people who have given a good part of their lives to the city,” he said.
That also describes Foster himself.
Foster gave hundreds of speeches in his life, but none was like the one he gave at the YMCA Prayer Breakfast in 2012.
For the first time publicly, Foster expressed his beliefs about faith, community, his family, the human condition and why he was committed to public service. His speech was deeply personal and candid, with Foster speaking movingly about major incidents in his life involving his parents, the earlier mental illness of his wife and the substance abuse struggles of their youngest son, James.
“I recount those challenges not to give the impression that we’ve had a difficult time,” he said. “Many people face far worse in their lives. I simply want to show that challenges will test your faith and beliefs.”
One of those tests came after the birth of their son James, when his wife struggled with her mental health. She eventually received treatment — and went on to live a normal life, helping others by speaking out about it, he said.
From her table, Nancy gave her husband a sparkling smile — the kind only a loving wife can give to her husband.
Foster said their son James’ drug affliction “placed a great strain on our family,” as the large audience of 700 sat in total silence. “But no matter how many times you are disappointed, how often your hopes are dashed, you never stop trying.”
James, 51, died in 2023.
Foster said his life’s journey started in Brooklyn, New York, with loving and hardworking parents: his mother, Helen, and his father, Ben, who owned a carpet company and taught his son how to lay carpets — helping him pay his way through San Jose State University.
“My dad was simply the best man I have ever known,” Foster told the audience. “He had a firm grounding in right and wrong. In addition to teaching me a trade, floor covering, he taught me much about life and people.”
Foster said his parents stressed the need and obligation to make things better for others. He said he had taken that lesson into his public life, which was filled with conflict.
When Foster left office as mayor in 2014, he told the Press-Telegram that it wasn’t his intention to irk people with his candid demeanor.
“Quite frankly, if I’ve rubbed people the wrong way or unintentionally offended them or they feel I wasn’t as inclusive as I should have been, I’m sorry for that,” he said. “But you know what, my job was to make this place better. I did it not only the best way I know how, but the fastest way I know how.”
He touched on that again during his speech at the Y prayer breakfast.
“In the end, we will be judged by whether we made the road smoother,” he said about public life, “a little wider or more navigable for those who follow us.”
When I asked his widow what Foster was proudest of in his public life, she said, “He was proudest (that he did what) was right, even if it was negative to his career.”
What were his greatest loves?
“He loved his family and the citizens of Long Beach,” she said. “He loved baseball and the San Francisco Giants, traveling, Roman history and his cat, Charlie. He loved a challenge and helping people. He was very generous with his time. He ended every phone call with the comment, ‘Do not hesitate to call me if you need any help.’”
She said he coached his James’ Little League team, which went to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In honor of their late son, he launched the James Foster Endowment Scholarship to offer a pathway for Long Beach State Baseball Dirtbags student-athletes to attend college.
He and Nancy also co-founded the James Foster Mental Health Assistance Fund, which expands access to mental health care for children and families.
Bob and Nancy met while both were living in Sacramento and were married in 1968. They had two sons, James and Kenneth. Kenneth is operator of an AES power plant in Long Beach and has three children – Taylor Marie, Bobbie and Ryan.
As Bob got older, we often had conversations about aging and how to deal with it.
He would talk about why a close friend’s terminal illness pushed him away from running for a third term as mayor in 2014.
“It’s one thing when you’re 46 or 56,” Foster said, “but when you’re 66, you should be pretty objective that you have more time behind you than in front of you.”
He said his friend’s illness made him reassess his life.
“The truth is, we should all live like we have a terminal diagnosis.” Foster said. “I don’t know how much time I have, but I’m going to live as if it is more truncated than I previously thought.”
His advice always was to enjoy life and live life one day at a time.